After four interviews, Dombrowski said, he was convinced Ausmus was the man for the job.

"I was taken back with how impressive he was," Dombrowski said. "Every time Brad's name came up, it was effusive with praise."

Ausmus said that he would retain bench coach Gene Lamont.

"He's the guy I would've had as my bench coach regardless," Ausmus said.

He did not confirm that pitching coach Jeff Jones would return, saying, "We are in the process of looking at possible pitching coach candidates," but didn't rule out that return and said he would be a "prominent name on the list."

Ausmus will wear No. 7, which he wore during his first stint with the Tigers in 1996.

During his second stint, from 1999-2000, he made his first All-Star team and was part of Tigers teams that closed Tiger Stadium and opened Comerica Park.

PHOTOS: MANAGING CAROUSEL

Rick Renteria, 51, formerly the Padres' bench coach, has been lauded throughout the game for his player development and leadership skills. He replaced Dale Sveum, who was fired after two years.
Renteria will be the Cubs' first Hispanic manager since Preston Gomez in 1980. (Photo: Lenny Ignelzi, AP)

Jim Leyland, who led the Tigers to two pennants in eight seasons and got them to the verge of a third this season, is retiring. He posted a 700-597 record with the Tigers, and has 1,769 wins in a 22-year career. (Photo: Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports)

Joe Girardi agreed to a four-year deal with the Yankees. Since taking over in 2008, he has led the Yankees to a major league-best .580 winning percentage (564-408) in that span. (Photo: Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports)

The Phillies fired Charlie Manuel in mid-August after a disastrous stretch. But, he will always be remembered for in Philadelphia for winning the 2008 World Series. (Photo: Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports)

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"It certainly has changed over the last eight years or so," Ausmus said. "This is a winning franchise. Year in and year out, they're competing and I should be held for that standard as well.

"The expectation has changed."

Ausmus has no previous managerial experience, besides managing the Israel national team in the 2010 World Baseball Classic qualifying rounds.

Dombrowski acknowledged hiring such a fresh face in the dugout was a risk, but that "anybody has risk attached to it."

He said he started the hiring process with a list of 50 names and after talking to people within the industry, including former managers Tony La Russa and Joe Torre, whittled it down.

He interviewed four candidates and had two potential on the docket – one of which was former Michigan and Cincinnati Reds star Barry Larkin, who declined – before arriving inside the Tiger Club with Ausmus at his side.

"We think he's going to be a very good big league manager for a long time and help us win right now," Dombrowski said. "That was always part of our process. Can he help us win right now? And the answer was yes."